Inspection light



April 25, 1944. K. M CRQSS HAL 2,347,174

INSPECTION LIGHT Filed Sept. 29, 1945 JOSEPH J W `TEPHENS YKENNETH M. CROSS A TTORNE Y Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED', STATES PATENT OFFICE INSPECTION LIGHT t Kenneth M. Cross, Glendalegand Joseph W. Stephens, South Pasadena, Calif.

Application September 29, 1943, Serial No. 504,230V

n n ',9`Claims.

This invention relates to inspection lights. The general object of our invention is to providea novel inspection light wherein the lighting element is securely mounted and wherein the housing is free from. all outside obstructions; f

A more specific object of this Vinvention Vis to provide a novel means for securing the element of an inspection light within a, tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel support bar for an inspection light wherein the supporting bar is hollow sothat the leads may pass therethrough.v

Another object of the invention is to provide an inspection light wherein the working parts of the light are hermetically sealed against gases, moisture, dust and other foreign material. y

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel closure member for inspection lights.

Other objects and the advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the vaccompanying drawing, wherein: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an inspection light embodying the features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional, detailedelevation taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2; A

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, fragmentary, sectional Fig. 5 is a section'taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of our inspection light. y y Referring to the drawing by reference characters, we have shown our invention as embodied in an inspection light which is indicated generally at I0. As shown the device includes a cylindrical, tubular, transparent body portion I I having one end thereof closed bycylindrical plug I2. The body II` and plug are preferably made of non-frangible Iplastic material such as Lucite and the plug is preferably retained in place by cementing or fusing it to the body.

Enclosed within the body we provide an elongated, hollow, supporting bar I3. This bar I3 includes a front portion I4 having outwardly ilar-A ing edge portions Ida and a rear portion I5 which has converging edge portions I5a. The portions I4a and I5a interlock so that the member is held in assembled form. The rear portion I5 is bent so that it substantially conforms tothe inner surface of the tubular body II. l

'I'he member l5 extends substantially the full length of the tube while the member I4 extends from the inner end of the member I5 to a location spaced from the other end of the member I5.- At its inner end the member I4 is provided with anupwardly directed end flange I6 and at its outer end the member I4 is provided with anupwai'dly directed flange I1. The flanges I6 and I 1 have curved free ends I1a which substantially correspond to the inner congurationof the body II. As a result of the flanges I6 and I1 the supporting bar I3 isheld against undue movement within the body VI I.

` The exposed surface of the front portion I4 is finished to provide a reflecting surface for light from `a tube to be hereinafter described so that the light will be reflected forwardly.'

On the flanges I6 and I1 we mount socket members I8a and |819. These socket members are `heldin place by screws I9 which pass through the flanges. Insulating plates Ia are arranged between the socket members and their associated flanges. 'Each of the sockets has an aperture 20 with a slot 20a leading thereto. Within each of the apertures 2D a pair of resilient electrical contact members 2I are secured. These contacts 2I are engaged by contact points 22 on a fluorescent tube 23. The particular construction of the socket members and of the lamp form no lpart of the present invention.

The'end of the' body I I which is opposite to the plug I2 is hermetically sealed by'a removable closure which consists of an inner and an outer plug'25 and 26.` The plugs have a diameter slightly'less than the vinternal diameter of the body II. Between the plugs We arrange a resilient washer 21 made of rubber or other suitable material. The washer has a. diameter which approximates the internal diameter of lthe body II. v

A ,plurality of screws 28 pass through cylindrical holes 29 in the plug 26 and engage threads 29 in the plug 25. `When the screws are tightened the washer 21` is compressed and is expanded peripherally so that it forms a hermetic seal for the body I I.

vThe plugs 25 and 26, as well as the washer 21, havealigned apertures 30 throughwhich a cable 31| extends. This cable includes a plug 32 and a ballast box 33. The cable 3I,`just inside the plug 25, is engaged by a, clamp 35 which is suitably secured to the member I Il. The cable 3| includes two .individual wires 36 and 31 which are separated beyond the clamp 35. The wires 36 and 31 pass through holes 38 in an insulating block 39 which is secured to the member I4. I

` The wire 36 extends through the hollow sup` porting bar and is attached to one contact of the socket member I4c. The wire 31 is connected to one contact of the socket member |422. Arranged between the outer end of the tube 23 and the insulating block 39 is a starter 40 which is held in place by spring tongues 4I on the member I5. The starter has terminals 42 and 43 which are engaged by wires 44 and 45. The wire 44 extends to the other terminal of the socket I4c and the`wire.4.5 extends to the other terminal of the socket 11419.

The particular type of ballast box and the details of the circuit by means of which current 5I) which engages threads 5I in the plug. The

hook 50 has a diameter less than that of'the body I I so that the inspection light maybe readily inserted through openings.

The lower inside surface of the tube 'I I is coated witha `suitable ,opaquev coating 53. which serves to indicate what is :the handle portion of the light and also serves to hide the non-illuminated interior details.

From the vforegoing description it will be apparentthat we have invented a novel inspection light which is compact, sturdy, free from exterior obstructionand is free from all outside metallic members and is hermetically sealed. v

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1:. An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent, cylindrical body, an elongated supporting barinsaid body, said bar including a front portion and arear portion secured together, said front and rear portions being spaced to Vprovide 'a lead -receiving chamber, spaced upwardly directed anges on said bar, said flanges having portions arranged to engage the inner surface of the tubular member, a pair of spaced socket members supported on said bar, the socketmembers being opposed, and a fluorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members. v

;2.An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent, cylindrical body having one .end thereof'fhermetically closed, a removable plug hermetically sealed vat the other end of said body, an elongated ysupporting bar in said body, said bar comprising a. front portion having outwardly flaring side walls and a rear portion having converging side walls `engaging the front flaring wallsto hold the front and rear in spaced relation, said front .portion having spaced upwardly directed flanges thereon, each flange having a curved free edge shaped to substantially `correspond to the inner surface of the tubular member, a socket member mounted on each of said flanges, and,v a `fluorescent light tube having terminals engaging said Socket members.

t3.A An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent body which is cylindrical, an elongated supporting bar in said body, said bar comprising a front portion havingv a reecting outer surface and having outwardly flaring side walls and a rear portion havingconverging side walls engagingv the front aring walls to hold the front and rear together, said front and rear portions being 1spaced to provide a lead receiving chamber, said front portion having an upwardly directed flange at each end thereof, a socket member mounted on each of said flanges, and a fluorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members.

4. An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent, cylindrical body having one end .member mounted on each of said flanges, a fluorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members, said socket members each including spacedwire terminals, a pair of leads extending. through said closure, a starter switch, lsaid rear portion having a pair of spring jaws thereon, said' starter switch releasably engaging said jaws, clamping means on said front portion and en-gaging said leads adjacent the inner end of said closure, said leads connecting the starter switch and said lwire terminals.

5. An inspection light comprising `a hollow, transparent body which is cylindrical throughout and 'has one end .thereof hermetically closed, aclosure at the other end of said body, an elongated supporting -bar in said body, said bar-comprising a front portion having a reflecting outer surface and having outwardly flaring side walls and a rearlportion having converging side-walls engaging the front flaring walls tohold the front and rear together, said front and rear portions being spaced to provide a lead receiving chamber, thesaid rear portion extending substantially the full length of the tube and the front portion terminating at its inner end adjacent the inner endof theA rear portionysaid front portion at its outer end terminating at a location spaced from the .end -of the rear portion, -each end of said f ront portion having an upwardly directed flange thereon, a socket member mounted on each of said flanges, and a fluorescent light tube having terminals engaging lsaid socket members.

6. An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent body which is closed at each end, an elongated supporting bar in said body, said bar comprising a front portion having outwardly flaring side walls and a rear portion having converging side ywalls engaging the front flaring walls to hold the front and rear together, said front and rear portions being spaced to provide a lead receiving chamber, the said rear portion extending substantially the full length of the body and the front portion terminating at its inner end adjacent the inner end of the rear portion, said front portion at its outer end terminating at a location spaced wfrom the end of the rear portion, each end of said front portion having an upwardly directed flange thereon, a socket member mounted on each of said flanges, a uorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members, a starter, said rear member having a pair of spring jaws thereon, said starter releasably engaging said jaws and leads connecting said socket members and said starter.

7.`An inspection light comprising a hollow,

transparent, cylindrical body having one end thereof hermetically closed, a removable plug hermetically sealed at the other end of said body,

an elongated supporting bar in said body, saidbar comprising a front portion having outwardly flaring side walls and a rear portion having converging side walls engaging the front flaring walls to hold the front and rear in spaced rela-k tion, said rear portion extending substantially the full length of the body and the front portion terminating at its inner end adjacent the inner end of the rear portion, said front portion at its outer end terminating at a location spaced inwardly from the end of the rear portion, each end of said front portion having an upwardly directed flange thereon, a socket member mounted on each of said anges, a uorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members, said socket members each including spaced wire terminals, a pair of leads extending through said plug, a starter switch, one of the leads including a Wire extending to a terminal on one socket member, the other terminal of the one socket member having a Wire extending to one terminal of the starter switch, the other terminal of the starter switch having a wire extending to one terminal of the other socket and the other terminal of the other socket being connected to the other lead.

8. An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent body which is cylindrical through'- out and has one end thereof hermetically closed, a removable piug at the other end of said body, an elongated supporting bar in said body, said bar comprising a front portion having a reflecting outer surface and having outwardly flaring side Walls and a rear portion having converging side walls engaging the front flaring Walls to hold the front and rear together, said front and rear portions being spaced to provide a lead receiving chamber, the said rear portion extending substantially the full length of the body and the front portion terminating at its inner end adjacent the inner end of the rear portion, said front portion at its outer end terminating at a location spaced from the end of the rear portion, each end of said front portion having an upwardly directed ange thereon, each flange having a free edge substantially adapted to engage the inner surface of the tubular body, a socket member mounted on each of said flanges, a uorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members, said socket members each including spaced Wire terminals, a pair of leads extending through said plug and operatively connecting said socket members, said leads including a starter switch, said rear portion having a pair of spring jaws thereon, said starter switch releasably engaging said jaws and means on said front portion and engaging said leads adjacent the inner end of said plug.

9. An inspection light comprising a hollow, transparent, cylindrical body having one end thereof hermetically closed, a removable closure hermetically sealed at the other end of said body, an elongated supporting bar in said body, said bar comprising a front portion having outwardly aring side walls and a rear portion having converging side walls engaging the front flaring walls to hold the front and rear in spaced relation, said rear portion extending substantially the full length of the body and the front portion terminating at its inner end adjacent the inner end of the rear portion, said front portion at its outer end terminating at a location spaced inwardly from the end of the rear portion, each end of said front portion having an upwardly directed flange thereon, each flange having a curved free edge shaped to substantially correspond to the inner surface of the tubular body, a socket member mounted on each of said flanges, a luorescent light tube having terminals engaging said socket members, said socket members each including spaced wire terminals, a pair of leads extending through said closure, a starter switch, said rear member having a pair of spring jaws thereon, said starter switch releasably engaging said jaws, clamping means on said front portion and engaging said leads adjacent the inner end of said closure, one of the leads including a wire extending to a terminal on one socket member, the other terminal of the one socket member having a wire extending to one terminal of the starter switch, the other terminal of the starter switch having a wire extending to one terminal of the other socket and the other terminal of the other socket being connected to the other lead.

KENNETH M. CROSS. JOSEPH J. W. STEPHENS. 

